Six points in 19 games isn't quite the bang Edmonton expected from Erik Cole, nor is it the bang Erik Cole expected from himself. But head coach Craig MacTavish feels the veteran winger is working as hard as he can to pull out of it, which is why he hasn't been as hard on him as he has with other slumpers.

"It's always an adjustment when you leave an organization you've been with a long time," said MacTavish. "You see it over and over again. Ryan (Smyth) last year in Colorado would be a good example of that.

"He's a good person, he works hard, very coachable, he'll get to the level that he's played at before," he added.

Cole, who had 22 goals and 51 points last year in Carolina, is down on the third line trying to rediscover his touch.

"I'm trying to simplify everything, be smart with the puck," he said. "I haven't made the best decisions with the puck this season."

He doesn't stress out over his stats, though.

"I'm not too worried about it. The only things that matter are the wins and losses. It would be nice to be able to contribute on a nightly basis, but if you're constant with your play and with your effort, everything else will kind of follow suit."